Business Financing
for Women
|
"Sometimes I worry about being a success in
a mediocre world."
Lily Tomlin
A hugely successful comic |
Finding business
financing for women is a real challenge. The one strong advantage that
women have is that every traditional financing source is open to them too.
It's hard to say, "Forget being a woman" and "Take
advantage of being a woman" in the same sentence, but that is what finding
financing for women requires.
First and foremost, you are a business person.
Male, female, Hispanic, white, black, Asian, tall or short. You are a
business person. Everything that you do in searching for financing needs
to say that.
But because you are a woman, there are some
sources open to you that men don't have. (There are also a lot of sources
open to men that most women don't have, but that's another story.) Take
advantage of that. Go after it. It is there because there are
organizations that recognize the problems women have had in acquiring financing.
Here are a few sources of business financing for
women to get you started.
It's not a lot. But there never has been a lot earmarked for women
entrepreneurs.
The SBA introduces new
resource for business plans for women: My Biz. It is overflowing with
great new information for all entrepreneurs.
The Small
Business Administration Women's Network has been around for a while
-- and continues to link success to success every single day. Women's
business organizations have always been a valuable resource. Here are
some of the best. Equality
in business? Well, no. And personally I prefer it that way.
Business
Plan Competition for Women. One million women-owned businesses will
become million dollar companies.
WOMEN'S
NETWORK. An SBA sponsored program for
women entrepreneurs. The value of WNET varies from region to region, but it's
definitely worth checking out.
Isabella
Capital LLC
A VC firm owned and
operated by women for women.
Online
Women's Business Center
The SBA office for women-owned businesses.
Springboard
Enterprises. A non-profit organization
working to facilitate women's access to the equity markets. Get in touch with
this group before you need them -- their expertise can head you in the right
direction.
National
Minority Supplier Development Council. Links
corporate America and minority-owned businesses. A membership organization.
Diversity
2000. The online hub for supplier
diversity. Maintains a database of minority and women businesses and contacts
within Fortune 1000 companies. A FREE source.
Are
you from Wisconsin? In the market for an angel investor? There are
some waiting to hear from women and minorities. See this article on Angel
Investor Groups of Women in Wisconsin.
Return to top of
Business Financing for Women
|
POPULAR ARTICLES
|
|
|
 |
C.J. Ralph
Minority Business Specialist
|
|
